Common name
Rat's Tail Fescue
Fox Tail Fescue
Silver Grass

Derivation
Vulpia C.C.Gmel., Fl. Bad. 1: 8 (1805); after J.S.Vulpius (1760–1840), a German chemist.

myuros- from the Greek mys (mouse) and oura (tail), referring to the shape of the inflorescence.

Published in
Fl. Bad. 1: 8 (1805).

Common synonyms
Vulpia megalura (Nutt.) Rydb.

Habit
Annual, culms solitary or tufted. Culms erect or decumbent, 5–70 cm tall, 2–3-noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.3–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 2–17 cm long, 0.4–3 mm wide, firm or flaccid. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes, exserted or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Panicle contracted, linear, equilateral or nodding, curved, 5–39 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches angular, scaberulous.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels oblong, 1–3 mm long. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 3–10 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed, 7–13 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas, scaberulous.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear to lanceolate, 0.4–1.5(–3.5) mm long, 15–40% length of upper glume, membranous, 1-nerved. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, 2.6–8 mm long, 75% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1–3-nerved. Upper glume lateral nerves prominent. Upper glume apex acuminate, muticous or awned.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate, 4.7–8.5 mm long, chartaceous, 5-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves obscure. Lemma surface scaberulous, glabrous or hairy. Lemma apex acuminate, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn 5–19.6 mm long overall. Palea 100% of length of lemma, 2-nerved. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex divided to base, 2-fid. Rhachilla extension 0.9–1.9 mm long. Apical sterile florets 1–2, resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Anthers 1–2, 0.3–1 mm long, retained within floret. Ovary glabrous. Grain with adherent pericarp, linear, glabrous. Hilum linear, 100% of length of caryopsis.

Continental Distribution:
Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific, North America, South America, and Antarctica.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

Western Australia: Austin, Drummond, Dale, Warren, Eyre, Roe, Coolgardie. South Australia: Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Moreton, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains. Victoria: Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee, Wimmera, Wannon, Grampians, Riverina, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plains, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, East Gippsland. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, North East, Central Highlands, Midlands, Ben Lomond, East Coast.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Poeae

Notes
Introduced. Found in all states except N.T. Native to Europe, introduced to New Zealand, Africa, North and South America. Usually in dry often rocky or sandy habitats. Flowers May–Dec. Fruits July–Mar. There are two varieties.

Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C.Gmel. f. myuros
Tas. and the Bass Strait islands, N.S.W., Vic., Qld, W.A. and S.A. Common in pastures, roadsides and waste areas. Flowers May–Nov. Fruits Oct.–Feb.

Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C.Gmel. f. megalura (Nutt.) Stace & Cotton
Tas. and the Bass Strait islands, N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic., Qld, W.A. and S.A. Usually in dry often rocky or sandy habitats. Flowers June–Dec. Fruits July–Mar.